Knoxville underwear model to compete on next 'Survivor'

South Knoxville's own Johnny Knoxville was a pioneer reality show television in 2000 with his show "Jackass," and the next year Knoxville soccer mom Tina Wesson won the second season of "Survivor." Since then, locals have been finding their way into numerous reality shows. Here's a look at some of them.
Chuck Campbell

Yerger has relocated to Los Angeles and is represented by LA Models of Los Angeles, Ford Models of New York City and Kult Models of Germany. CBS also says Yerger is a real estate agent, and his LinkedIn profile says he is a real estate agent with Rodeo Realty of Southern California.

The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Yerger is a model, and in much of Yerger’s portfolio — including his Instagram profile photo — he is modeling underwear.

Yerger is the youngest player on “Survivor: Ghost Island” in what is one of the youngest casts in the show’s 36 seasons. In his CBS bio, Yerger says he aims to be the youngest winner in the show’s history.

Yerger graduated from Bearden High School in May 2016. He became a fan of "Survivor" at 8 years old. While he grew up in West Knoxville, he and his mom watched "Survivor" together for 10 years, according to his father Chris Yerger.

Several Knoxvillians have competed on “Survivor” in the past — including Fountain City soccer mom Tina Wesson, who won the show’s second season in 2001. Wesson was brought back by CBS to play twice more, including on 2013’s “Survivor: Blood vs. Water,” in which her daughter, Knoxville-native Katie Collins, also competed.

Knoxville native and West High graduate Benjamin “Coach” Wade first played in 2009’s “Survivor: Tocantins” and was brought back to play in 2010’s “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” (he was put on the villains team) and again in 2011’s “Survivor: South Pacific,” in which he finished as the first runner-up.

Knoxville native Hali Ford competed in 2014’s “Survivor: Worlds Apart” and was invited back to compete on 2017’s “Survivor: Game Changers.” She made it to about the midway point both seasons.

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In a CBS video, Yerger, who says he moved to Los Angeles a year ago, says he will tell his fellow castaways that he’s older, perhaps 23, so he’ll have more credibility as a contestant than they might give an 18-year-old.

He says in the video that as a Knoxville native, “I’m kind of a country boy at heart,” and says of the show, “My positive attitude will keep me going” in the game.

And given that “Survivor” contestants generally only wear swimsuits and underwear most of the time, he should fit right in.